Reprodukcijski ciklus gorgonije Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791) na području dubokog šelfa Cap de Creus (Španjolska)

master's thesis

• Title (english): Reproduction cycle of he gorgonian Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791) in Cap de Creus (Spain) deep shelf area
• Author: Ivana Šimunović
• Mentor: Petar Kružić (mentor)
• Committee member: Petar Kružić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Antun Alegro (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Duje Lisičić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasna Lajtner (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2014-09-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Gorgonije su sesilni organizmi koji igraju važnu strukturnu i ekološku ulogu u morskim zajednicama, pružajući stanište epifauni, te povećavajući biomasu i raznolikost zajednica. Većina podataka o gorgonijama koje nalazimo u Sredozemnom moru vezana je uz one populacije koje dolaze do 40 metara dubine. Gorgonije se mogu razmnožavati spolno i nespolno. Spolnim razmnožavanjem, nastaje trepetljikava ličinka planula, koja slobodno pliva u stupcu vode dok se ne pričvrsti za podlogu. Cilj ovog istraživanja je, po prvi put, odrediti reprodukcijski ciklus i fekunditet vrste Eunicella singularis na dubini od 90 m, na području dubokog šelfa. Zabilježen je omjer spolova koji nije značajno odstupao od 1:1, niti jedna hermafroditska jedinka nije pronađena među 238 otvorenih kolonija. Ženskim kolonijama potrebno je 14 do 15 mjeseci da bi završile reprodukcijski ciklus, dok je muškim kolonijama dovoljno 5 do 6 mjeseci. Temperatura, koja je do sada smatrana ekološkim čimbenikom koji najviše utječe na reprodukcijski ciklus gorgonija, prema dobivenim rezultatima nema utjecaj na gametogenezu E. singularis. Razmnožavanje je vrlo vjerojatno regulirano na genetičkoj razini vrste.

Abstract (english)

Gorgonians are sessile organisms which play an important structural and ecological role, potentially providing a shelter to epifauna, increasing biomass and biodiversity. The majority of studies in Mediterranean have been conducted on shallow water populations of gorgonians (depths of less than 40 m). Gorgonians reproduce both sexually and asexually. The product of sexual reproduction is a ciliated, free-swimming, planula larvae which settles down on the sea bottom. The main goal of this study is to describe, for the first time, reproduction cycle and fecundity of Eunicella singularis which dwells on the continental shelf at depth of 90 m. The sex ratio did not significantly differ from 1:1, not a single hermaphroditic colony was found within the 238 colonies examined. Female colonies needed 14-15 months to complete their reproductive cycle, while for male colonies, the whole cycle was completed in 5-6 months. Temperature, the most important and the most often examined factor which may influence the gorgonian reproduction cycle, did not have any impact on gametogenesis of E. singularis. Therefore, reproduction is higly probable regulated on genetic level of the species.

• Keywords: gorgonije; reprodukcijski ciklus; omjer spolova; utjecaj okoliša; temperatura
• Keywords (english): gorgonians; reproduction cycle; sex ratio; environmental influence; temperature
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:055615
• Study programme: Title: Ecology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra ekologije i zaštite prirode (magistar/magistra ekologije i zaštite prirode)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2017-04-25 09:45:03